Main

How To

I’ve learned that my ability to enjoy—and to succeed in—an ambitious hike is a function of:

My physical conditioning, including that of my feet,

My embrace of physical and mental adversity as a critical part of the experience, and

My knowledge of the gear, supplies and skills needed for the trip.

When I began my first thru-hike in May 2002—the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail—I had the first two ingredients covered, thanks to being a lifelong runner, at the time for Duke University’s Division I cross-country and track teams. But I possessed worrisome little knowledge. For example, I was ignorant of the effectiveness of water purification techniques; I was unsure how much food I needed between resupply points; and I didn’t know how to take care of my feet or select good campsites.

I have developed the resources on this page—and written a book, The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide—to share some of the knowledge I’ve gained during 30,000+ miles of backcountry and wilderness travel.

Comments are closed.

Connect & Follow

Subscribe to be notified of trips, presentations, guided outings, and exciting developments. One newsletter per month, max.

Tweets

About Skurka

Andrew Skurka is an accomplished adventure athlete, speaker, guide, and writer. The 35-year-old is most well known for his solo long-distance backpacking trips. He is the author of The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide.